Improvement in bee-hives



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0.. COLVIN. BEE

-HIVES.

Patent-ea July 31,1877.

INVENTOR WlTNEssEs E? ATToRNEYs.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

0. COLVIN.

BEE-RIVES.

Patented July 31, 1877.

INVENTOR @Mm '6MM Mare. @G7/MW ATTQRNEmx sheets-Sheeutl. 0. CLVN.

V BEEHIVES.

No. 193,752. Parfenpea .my 31,1877.

N. PE HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Cv ORSONCOLVIN, OF VIOKSBUEG,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HABE HIS RIGHT TO JOHN R. HAWKINS, OF KALAMAZOO,MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN B'EE-HIVE'S'.

Specitication forming part of Letters Patent No. 193,752, dated July 31,1877; application tiled May 26, 1877.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Beit known that LORSON GLVIN, ofVicksburg, inv the county of Kalamazooand State otMichigan, ,have invented a new and valuable Improvement inBee-Hives; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exactvdescription of the construction and operation of the same,reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of thisspecification, and to the-letters and figures of reference markedthereon. A

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a vertical centralsection ot' my bee-hive, and Fi'g.2 is a perspective view of the same.Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are detail views. Figs. 9 and' l() areperspectiveviews of the frame on which the hive is made, and 11 oftheframe on which the brood-chambers are made. Fig. 12 shows the frame overwhichthehoney-box cases are made. Figs. 13, 14,15, 16, 17, and 18represent details of' the frames.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangementof a bee-hive and the frames over which the various parts of the hiveare built, as will behereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, which fullyfilllistrate my invention, I haveshown both the hive. as constructed and the frames'over which thevarious parts are built or'made.

The broodchamber of the hive is formed of an outer casing, A, and aninterior casing, B, arranged to form dead-air cham bers aaround all foursides, and-:at the top are fastened two plates, C C, and two blocks, b.b, ofthe same thickness as the plates, are fitted between the ends ofsaid plates, said blocks being just long-enough tocover the two oasingsandthe air-,chambers -at those points. The inside casingB isy made abouthalf an inchshorter at the bottomv than the outside casing` A, as shown.

Inl the top of the brood-chamber are two inclined partitions, D D,forming. with the inside casing yB and the top plates'C O two angulandead-air chambers,a1 al, which are for the purpose of protecting thebees from heat and cold', landthey also cut ofty about twenty pounds ofhoney-or rather a space for about that amount, more or less-which thebees have to build in square hives, and that they make no use of, thusgiving the bees more time to work in' the surplus-lioneyboxes.

Between the upper endsoftheinclined 'para titions D'D are fitted aseries of Wooden blocks, d d, for combguides,'th`ere being suitablespaces let't between vthe blocks and be tween -t-he inside casing B andthe front and rear blocks.

This brood-chamber is built'over two separate frames or formers in' thefollowing man! ner: The lfirst frame or former is constructed of a bedor b'ase, E, having in its upper face a groove, e, ot' suitable depth,run'ningaround and parallel with the four sides ot the base. Within thearea inclosed by this groove is another groove, el, running parallelwith and at equal distances from the four sides ot' the groove e. Thegroove e is made about half an inch deeper than the groove eand a ledgeor flange, e2, is left between the two grooves, as shown. A't thecorners the two lnglparts of the groove el are out throughthe said angee2, as shown at e3.

On the base E are secured'two end pieces,l E1 E1, which coincide withthe inner walls of' the short parts of the inner groove el, and thefront and rear edges of said end pieces E1 run vertically upward 'fromthe bottom fora suitable height, and are then inclined toward the centerto near the top, where a horizontal edge is formed.

In the drawing, the vertical edges are marked e4, the inclined edges e5,and the topV horizontal edge e6.

The two end pieces E1 are braced and supported by means ot .twocel'itral'vertical posts, E2 E2, connected by a panel, E3, said panelbeing of the same height as the highest points on the end pieces, whilethe posts E2 extend a suitable distance above the saine, and have each amortise, e", lthrough its upper end, for the passage of a locking-bar,E4, which is fastened in said mortises by keys c.v

Near each end of the locking-bar E4, on the under side, is a projectingtongue, e9, of the saine width as the flange e2 011 the-'baseabbvedescribed.

The four pieces of which thein'terior casing B is made are placed in thegroove e1 of the base E, against the outer sides and horizontal edges ofthe side pieces E1, the longer sides of the said casing projectingthrough the cutouts e3, so that the edges of said long sides willcoincide with the inner walls of the outer groove e. The four sides ofthe inner casing B are then nailed together, and the partitions D Dplaced upon the inclined edges e5 of the end pieces E1 and nailed to theinner casing. The four pieces forming the outer casing -A are now placedin the groove e and nailed to each other, and the end pieces of saidouter casing are also nailed to the edges of the long sides of the innercasing, thus uniting said parts irmly together, and forming the outercasing A about half an inch deeper at the bottom than. the inner casingB. Thelockingbar E4, with its tongues e9, holds the parts in positionwhile being nailed together.

This partially-completed brood-chamber is then lifted off this rst frameor former, and placed over the second frame or former, which isconstructed of two side pieces,'G G, connected by a panel, Gr', in thecenter. These side pieces G G are constructed of exactly the same sizeand form as the end pieces E1 of the flrst frame or former. The panel G'extends above the top edges of the side pieces Gr G, and in the upperedge of said panel is formed a series of V-sbaped notches, f, in whichthe wooden blocks or comb-guides d are placed, and then nailed to theinclined partitions D D.

The plates C C and blocks b b are then titted in place and fastened,which completes the brood-chamber of the hive.

H represents the bottom section of thehive, made to it closely withinthe outer casing A, and the inner casing B resting upon it. This bottomsection is fastened to the brood-chamber by hooks or other suitablemeans, and has its sides projecting below7 the front and rear, to formthe bee-entrances g g at the front and rear, as shown.

Along the sides on the inside of said bottom section H are fastened sidestrips l I, running parallel with the inclined partitions D D, andsloping on their inner sides-from the top inward and downward. Thesloping movable bottom thus formed causes the bees to build the combs ina rounding shape at the Y bottom of the hive, so that it will requireless bees to keep up the required heat for broodlng.

Around the top edges of the outside casing A is formed a Arabbet orshoulder. h, which may be provided with rubber or other suitablepacking, if desired, to secure a perfectlytight joint when the top caseJ is placed thereon, said top case forming the outside case of thehoney-chamber.

This top case J is made on a former constructed of a base, K, upon whichis secured a box-like frame, K1, the end pieces of said frame projectingabove the sides, and having a locking-bar, K2, passed through mortisestherein near the top in the center. This locking-bar K2 has a shoulder,k, on the under side near each end, and it is fastened in the mortisesby keys k1.

Around the edges of the base K are fastened heads or moldings k2, whichform a groove, 7a3, of suitable width all around the boxfframe K1. Thefour sides of the case are placed in the groove 7c3 against the sides ofthe frame K1, and held in place 4by the lockingbar K2 when they arenailed together. The case is then lifted off the former, and the toplaid on and nailed fast.

On the opposite sides of the top case `or cap J are two hatcentrally-pivoted buttons, L L, each of which has a wire-gauze coveredopening, i, corresponding with similar apertures i1 in the case, sothat, by turning said buttons on their central pivots, the openings i1in the case may be more or less or entirely covered, or entirelyuncovered, so as to regulate the draft through the hive.

On top of the brood-chamber of the hive, and within the cap J, areplaced two or more honey-box cases, one on top of the other. Each ofthese cases is formed of two parallel side pieces, M M, with a centralportion, M1, running parallel with them, and all connected at the endsby top and bottom cleats M2 and M3. The top cleats M2 are thicker thanthe bottom cleats M3, and they extend above the parts M M1. In the upperedge of thetop cleats M2, on the inner sides, are formed rabbets orshoulders m, which are slightly elevated above the upper edges of theparts M and M1. The re are also cleats M4 fastened along the sides M atthe top, of the vsame height as the cleats M2.

Each side M is provided with two wiregauze covered openings, 2, tocoincide with the openings i1 in the case J above described.

The honey-box case thus constructed is made over a former consisting ofa base or bed, N, upon which are two vertical parallel side pieces, N1N1, suitably braced, and between these side pieces are two box-likeframes, N? N2, the spaces between the frames N2 and between said framesand the side pieces being just wide enough to admit the pieces M1 and MM of the honey-box case. These pieces are held down on the bed N by alocking-bar, N3, passed through mortises in the center of the sidepieces N1 at the top, and fastened by keys u. The end cleats M2 M3 arethen nailed to the ends of the pieces M M1, the position of said cleatsbeing indicated by notches n' cut in the ends of the side pieces N1. Thecase is then removed from the former and the, cleats M4 nailed on, asalso the wire-gauze for the openings i2. Each honey-box case thus formstwo separate compartments, and when one case is put on top of the other,the top case rests on the shoulders m in the cleats M2 of the casebelow. In `each compartment of said cases is placed a sectionalhoney-box, and

the openings between the cleats M2 M3 of the cases are to be closed withsuitable glass plates.'

The sectional honey-boxes are each formed of a series of top hars, P,placed suitable distances apart, and connected by twolongitudistrips,ppone near each side-f-on the under side. To the undersides of these strips are attached comb-guides P1, corresponding withthe top bars P, and side bars P2 are then attached to the ends of thecomb-guides and outer sides of the strips, with the ends of the top barsP projecting beyond the side bars. The bottom is formed of bars P3connected by strips pp' at their ends. Therlo'wer ends of the side ba'rsP2 are fastened to the ends of the bottom bars P3 Iand the strips p.

This sectional honeybox is made over several forms in the followingmanner:

O represents a square-cornered box of suitable dimensions, in which isfitted a solid block, O1, having in its upper surface, along each side,a rabbet, o, extending nearly to the ends, as shown. 0n top of the blockOl are Y secured a series of transverse ribs, o o', at

suitable equal distances apart. In the rabbets o are laid the strips p',and between the ribs o are laid the bottom bars P3, which t between thesides of the box O, and said bars P3 are then, when in this position,nailed to the strips p', thereby completing the bottom of the honey-box.

R is a bed piece provided with vertical ends R1 R1, which are connectedat the sides by strips R2 R2 elevated a certain distance above the bed.

Transversely through the block O1 is made a series of mortises,corresponding in number and location with the ribs o', and through saidmo'rtises are passed a number of slides, 02, of the same thickness asthe ribs o', and of such length as to project beyond both sides of theblock a distance equal to the thickness of the side bars P2 of thehoneybox. The bottom of the honey-box being completed, as

above described, is inserted and placed on the bed R. The slides O2 areinserted in the block 01, and said block inserted and placed on top ofthe honey-box bottom, the ribs o( then being on the under side andfitting between the bars P3, and the ends of the slides O2 jutting upagainst the side strips R2. The side bars P2 of the honey-box are nowinserted vertically on both sides of the block between the ends of thesides O2. The top ofthe honey-box-completed as hereinafter describedisthen laid on top of the block O1, and on top of the same is laid aboard, R3, having a cleat, r, at each end on the under side, iittingbeyond the ends of the stripsp p, and the whole is fastened byalocking-bar, R4, passed through mortises in the top of the end pieces R1R1, and secured by keys r. The side bars P2 of the honey-box are, whenheld in this position, Eailed to thevtop and bottom, completing saidlThe top of the honeybox is made on a former, S, consisting of a plateformed with a series of transverse V-shaped recesses, s s, theprojections between said recesses forming, at the top, narrow horizontalsurfacess1 s1, as shown. Along all four sides of the former S is formeda ledge, s2, extending above the horizontal surfaces s1 described, andforming, as it were, a rim around the entire former. From the top ofthis ledge or rim, along the sides of the former, extend a series ofpins, s3, which are on a line with the surfaces s1, as shown. in makingthe top of the honey-box the triangular comb-guides Pl are laid -in therecesses s s, the upper surfaces of said con1b.

guides being flush with the horizontal surfaces si, and their endsfitting against the side ledges s2. The strips pl are then placed on topalong said side ledges, these strips being then fiush with the topsurfaces of the ledges. The top bars P are then laid across the formerS, bctWeen the pins s3, and the various parts nailed together.

When the honey-boxes are thus completed and placed in the honey-boxcases, the boxes are supported by the projecting ends of the top bars Presting upon the upper edges of the parts M and M1 of the cases.

It will be noticed that by this construction there are spaces leftbetween all the parts sufficiently large for the bees to pass through inall directions and for perfect ventilation.

Generally two of the combfcases are used on topof each other, as shown,with space for the bees between the upperand lower honey-boxes.

When one case is filled it can be raised and an empty one placedunderneath, so that the comb-builders, as soon as they have the topsection filled with comb, can go to work in the lower set and not haveto wait till the combs in the top boxes are filled .with honey and aresealed before they can enter anew set of boxes, which would not only bea loss of honey, but would also cause them to till the brood-combs belowwith honey that might be secured by the two sets of boxes.

By the construction of the honey-box as described, it will be seen thateach card of honey is built by itself, and the cards may be easilyseparated, by simply cutting through the corner stripspp.

The top honey-box case is covered by a sweat-board composed of a seriesof slats, V V, placed side by side, and connected together at their endsby bottom strips c and top strips c.

This sweat-board performs two offices-one as a sweat-board per se, andthe other to prevent the bees coming out when the cap is removed, as itoften is, temporarily, to see how the bees are working. The sweat-boardV is made in a frame, W, the side pieces of which have rabbets w alongtheir inner edges, and the end pieces have also rabbets fw along theirinner edges, but these latter rabbets are not so deep as those on theside pieces. The strips c are laid in the rabbets w, and are iiush withthe end rabbets w'. The slats V are now laid across the frame on thestrips v fv, coinpletely filling the frame, after which the top stripsc' are laid on the ends of the slats and the parts all nailed together.

In the construction of' this hive a free and perfect ventilation isobtained, the inclined partitions D D forming a contracted throat at thetop, creating a draft upward through the hive. The air, entering throughthe bee-entrances at the bottom, passes upward through the brood-chamberand honey-boxes and out through the Ventilating/openings i2, il, and t',as described.

What I claim as new, .and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The inclined partitions D D, arranged in the top of thebrood-chamber, in combination with the inner walls ot' said chamber andthe top plates C, to form the angular dead air chamber al, substantiallyas herein set forth.

2. The combination of the outer casing A, inner casing B, top plate C,with blocks b and inclined partitions I), all constructed and arrangedas described, to form the brood-chamber of a bee-hive With dead-airchambers a a', substantially as herein set forth.

3. The combination of the bed E, having grooves c el, iange e2, andpassages e3, the end pieces E El, having vertical edges e4, inclinededges e5, and horizontal edges c6, the mortised posts Ez E2, panel E3,and the locking-bar E4, with tongues e9 and keys e8, all constructedsubstantially as and for the purpose described.

-4. The combination of the end pieces Gr G and connecting panel G1,having a series of V-shaped notches, f, in its upper edge, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of the base K, boxframe K1, with mortises in its end,the cleats k2, groove k3, and shouldered locking-bar Ic', with keys K1,substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. The honey-box case composed of the side pieces M M, having wire-gauzecovered openings i2, the partition M1, top cleats M, with rabbets m, andthe cleats M3 and M4, all constructed and combined substantially1 as andfor the purpose described.

7. The combination of the bed or side pieces N N, With notches nl, thebox-frames N2 N2, and the locking-bar N3, with keys'n, all constructedsubstantially as described.

8. The solid block O1, formed with rahbets O O and ribs 0'0, incombination with the box O, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

9. The bed R and pieces R1 R1, side strips R2 R2, board R3, with cleatsr, and the lockingbar R4, with keys r', in combination with the block O1and slides O2, substantially as and for the purpose described.

l0. The former S, formed with the Vshaped recesses s, horizontalsurfaces s1, and ledges s2, and provided with the pins s3, substantiallyas described.

11. The sweat-board composed of the slots V and the top and bottom sidestrips 'u c', substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. The frame W, formed around its inner edges with the parallel rabbetslw w and w w', of unequal depth, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two Witnesses.

ORSON GOLVIN.

Witnesses:

L. F. Cox, SAMUEL HAWKiNs.

